First Olympic Medal Won By An Estonian

This summer one hundred years will pass from the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm where also Estonians, then still competing in the Russian team, made their first appearance in the Games. The wrestler Martin Klein (1884-1947) was the first Estonian to win an Olympic medal. The silver medal went to Klein against the Finn, Alfred Asikainen, and it is remarkable that due to the then competition regulations the men’s match dragged out up to 11 hours and 50 minutes. It is an achievement entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the longest official wrestling match of all times.